Macfilos readers will be sad to hear that Val, the wife of our long-time contributor and supporter, John Shingleton, died yesterday after a long battle with cancer.
Val and John met during their student days at Reading University, England, and were married for 51 years. Leaving Britain in the early 70s, the couple moved to Australia, living first in Sydney and then in Terrigal on the New South Wales coast.
I have never met Val—or John, for that matter—but we have been close over the years through John’s unfailing support for Macfilos. In particular, we have kept in regular contact during the last challenging months.
Val was a great traveller, and she and John had booked two adventurous breaks during 2020. Sadly, both never took place. As John says on his own blog, The Rolling Road, Val was very creative, and she was a great cook, with shelves full of cookbooks and a kitchen full of gadgets. The beautiful house on the coast, which they built and occupied from 2008, was largely Val’s creation.
I know that readers of Macfilos, and especially our loyal band of contributors and regular commenters, will join with me in offering condolences to John, his son Toby, daughter Lisa and grandchildren, Ellie, Scarlett, Poppy, Otto and Felix.
How sad – sorry for your loss
John
John and Family, Sincere condolences to you all. Wishing you strength at this difficult time.
R.I.P. Val.
Kind regards from Duncan
So sorry, John.
Yours, David.
John – please accept my sincere condolences for you and your family on the passing of your beloved Val.
My condolences John. I cannot imagine how difficult this time must be. I hope you find some comfort in your photography.
John, You have been a landmark for me in “spacious” photography, and I grieve with you that your personal space no longer has its most significant and gracious landmark – except in indelible memories, of course. My thoughts are silently with you at this time.
John N.
Thanks to everyone for the condolences and kind words. The last 9 months have been incredibly difficult for me as well as for Val since her cancer diagnosis in July last year. She went into hospital in August for 12 days then came home and then went into hospital again on 9th October and never came home as she moved from hospital into a palliative care facility.
I visited her every day of that time apart from three days -often twice a day. This schedule left little time for anything else apart from eating and sleeping so photography and writing for Macfilos was put on hold apart from the one recent Mini story which I wrote on my iPad when she fell asllep on one of my visits.
Now I have to pick up my life and clear my head and recuperate so for starters i plan to go on a road trip, with a Leica or two of course, and come back with some photographs and tales to recount. Watch this space.
John,
Good thought on the road trip in your new Mini Cooper. Just the job to give you a fillip. If I were not on the other side of the world, where the water goes down the plug hole the wrong way, I’d follow in my Tesla. But I probably wouldn’t be able to keep up. I’d also probably get myself stranded in some dusty town with no charger.
John,
my sincere condolences to you and family.
John,
My condolences to you and your family in these very dark days.
Kevin
John,
I am sorry to hear of Val’s passing, you have my sincere condolences.
I will add a ribbon to the rainbow of promise that is slowly growing around the Capalta tree outside Rochester Cathedral here in Kent, in her memory.
Best wishes
Dave
Sorry to hear about your huge loss. May you find some comfort in your memories.
Hello John. It’s been very tough for you and Val and family over the past months, but the toughest time is now. Sincere condolences.
Dear John,
I am very sorry to hear about the death of your lifelong companion and your beloved wife. As one other person wrote in an earlier comment, the community of Macfilos contributors feels a bit like the extended family. That means that we also share the dark hours. Please accept my heartfelt condolences.
In my thoughts, I am with you and your family. May all your memories comfort you in these sad times even if such moments of remembering are sometimes painful. I am sure that Val will be present for you by ways of wonderful pictures of photographic and other kinds.
All the best wishes for you, John. Jörg-Peter
Sad news indeed. Sincere condolences to John and family.
William
Mein Beileid! Mit stillem Gruß Ulrich
So sorry for your loss John.
In this internet connected world you and the other contributors on MacFilos have become part of our extended family and that includes what we learn about your family in turn.
I can only imagine your loss and hope that Val is now at peace.
Best
Jon
So very very sorry for your loss, John.
Condolence, John.
Hi John, my deepest condolences. I cannot imagine the grief. I remember seeing pictures of your beautiful Himalayan cat last month who passed away. Hope you have strength and support from other family to go through this difficult time. 🙏🏼
John, I am so very sorry to read this very sad news. Like Mike, I only know you through these ever-surpising and highly respected columns. In some ways, I feel slightly confused. Only last week, it seems, I was treated to a gloriously happy picture of your wife on your honeymoon, gracing an automobile of yesteryear. Memories play tricks. Even though I know you are retired, the published picture of your attractive young wife is my one and only abiding memory of her. Until today.
You will have a rich store of wonderful memories of Val, throughout your married life-time. Judging by your prowess as a fine photographer, you will also have a treasure-trove of pictorial memories to help soften the agony of your loss. At least she is out of pain and not entirely out of reach. She will be around for longer than you might think. May she rest in peace and continue to comfort you at this very sad time.
So so sorry, our prayers and thoughts for you and yours. It is always hard to lose your best friend, your travel coordinator, and probably the conductor of your band! Rest In Peace.